Becket was staring wide-eyed down at Woottone. ‘That is a lot of blood.’
Roul nodded. ‘It is.’ He looked to Tatum. ‘Are we clear?’
‘For now.’
‘Tie Woottone’s horse to mine,’ Roul said. ‘Get him in the saddle. We need to leave before anyone else arrives.’
Roul and Tatum lifted Woottone onto his horse, and then everyone mounted.
‘Let’s go!’ Roul called.
Eda went to check on Blackmane, but he waved her away.
Roul was waiting next to her horse. She did not object when he insisted on riding at her side.
It was near midnight when they finally stopped. There was no stream to fill their waterskins, but there was shelter beneath the trees. Everyone changed from drenched clothes into damp clothes. No one asked about food because no one had an appetite. Eda replaced Blackmane’s bandages, then went to check on Woottone. His dressings were completely soaked through. Eda shared a concerned look with Hadewaye as they packed the wound tightly with the remaining bandages.
‘He’s freezing,’ Becket said, looking worried.
They were all freezing, but it was dangerous for Woottone in his fragile state.
Eda looked over at Basil, who was now lying down. ‘Carry him to the donkey.’
‘Why?’ Roul asked.
‘Because it’s warm.’
They carried him to the snoozing animal, leaning the bodyguard on him and then covering him with two blankets.
‘I’ll stay with him,’ Eda said. Since taking warmth from Roul was no longer an option, she curled up against Basil instead, tucking her legs against Woottone’s as the temperature continued to plummet. He was already asleep, or unconscious. Hopefully asleep.
Basil turned his head to her. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered, rubbing his head.
The group was silent beneath the trees. The only sound was the horses eating the shrubbery. Eda stared through the dark at Roul. She could not make out his face, but she could feel his eyes on her.
‘Eda,’ he said.
She blinked. ‘Yes?’
‘I’ll be pleased if the donkey makes it all the way to Chadora.’
Her eyes sank shut, and she drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Eda woke to coughing. Her eyelids were heavy as she peeled them open. The fog was so thick she could barely see the bodies huddled against the trunks around her. Another cough. She pushed herself up and looked around, every muscle aching. It was Hadewaye. She reached out to check if Woottone was breathing next to her. He was.
Rising, she made her way over to Hadewaye. Crouching next to him, she saw his face was flushed red and beaded with sweat. She pressed a hand to his forehead. He was burning up.
‘What’s wrong?’ Alveye asked, sitting up.
‘He has a fever.’
Hadewaye opened his eyes, which were bloodshot.
‘You can’t get sick now,’ she said with a smile. ‘We’re nearly home.’
He swallowed, and it looked like it hurt. ‘Water.’ The word was a croak from his mouth.
